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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dem Opik 'may run for mayor' | Lib Dem Opik 'may run for mayor' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik has been touted as the party's potential candidate to be mayor of London. | Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik has been touted as the party's potential candidate to be mayor of London. |
| Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell's chief of staff, said Mr Opik would be better than Ken Livingstone or probable main rival Boris Johnson. | Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell's chief of staff, said Mr Opik would be better than Ken Livingstone or probable main rival Boris Johnson. |
| The Montgomeryshire MP, best known for dating one of the Cheeky Girls, said he was "flattered" to be mentioned. | The Montgomeryshire MP, best known for dating one of the Cheeky Girls, said he was "flattered" to be mentioned. |
| "Me, Boris and Ken would be a splendid contest. It would get a lot of interest and get the public voting," he said. | "Me, Boris and Ken would be a splendid contest. It would get a lot of interest and get the public voting," he said. |
| The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own Lembit Opik Analysis: Wacky races? | |
| The idea of Lembit Opik standing was initially put to Mr Davye in an interview with ePolitix.com. | The idea of Lembit Opik standing was initially put to Mr Davye in an interview with ePolitix.com. |
| Mr Davey said: "Lembit is a good friend of mine, I share an office with him, and if he decided to run he would certainly make one of the most interesting candidates in the race. | Mr Davey said: "Lembit is a good friend of mine, I share an office with him, and if he decided to run he would certainly make one of the most interesting candidates in the race. |
| "Would Lembit make a good mayor? I think that Lembit would make a much better mayor than Boris Johnson or Ken Livingston." | "Would Lembit make a good mayor? I think that Lembit would make a much better mayor than Boris Johnson or Ken Livingston." |
| Independent win | Independent win |
| Later, Mr Opik said: "It's ever so flattering. If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away. | Later, Mr Opik said: "It's ever so flattering. If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away. |
| "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own." | "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own." |
| Boris Johnson is likely to be the Conservative Party candidate | Boris Johnson is likely to be the Conservative Party candidate |
| Mr Opik, who has been Lib Dem spokesman on Northern Ireland and is currently spokesman on business, has had a long-term interest in the risk to Earth from meteorites. | Mr Opik, who has been Lib Dem spokesman on Northern Ireland and is currently spokesman on business, has had a long-term interest in the risk to Earth from meteorites. |
| But he has filled many tabloid pages over the past year as a result of the ending of his engagement to weather presenter Sian Lloyd and subsequent relationship with Gabriela Irimia from the Cheeky Girls. | But he has filled many tabloid pages over the past year as a result of the ending of his engagement to weather presenter Sian Lloyd and subsequent relationship with Gabriela Irimia from the Cheeky Girls. |
| If he were to enter the race the Lib Dems are drawing up a shortlist in September with a final choice expected later in the year. | If he were to enter the race the Lib Dems are drawing up a shortlist in September with a final choice expected later in the year. |
| Current mayor Mr Livingstone famously won his first term as an independent after being expelled from the Labour Party. | Current mayor Mr Livingstone famously won his first term as an independent after being expelled from the Labour Party. |
| He has since rejoined Labour and won his second term as the official Labour candidate and is to stand again next year as the Labour candidate. | He has since rejoined Labour and won his second term as the official Labour candidate and is to stand again next year as the Labour candidate. |
| The Conservatives have yet to decide on their candidate, but the well-known ex-Spectator editor and Tory MP Boris Johnson is the favourite to win the race to be their candidate. | The Conservatives have yet to decide on their candidate, but the well-known ex-Spectator editor and Tory MP Boris Johnson is the favourite to win the race to be their candidate. |
| Mr Johnson now faces a Tory selection process including open primaries where any Londoner on the electoral register can vote. | Mr Johnson now faces a Tory selection process including open primaries where any Londoner on the electoral register can vote. |
| The others on the shortlist are Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot - all party activists. | The others on the shortlist are Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot - all party activists. |